Page 119 of Changing Lanes

I glance back to him and after several attempts at swallowing down the new emotions clogging my airway, I say, “Thank you. For doing that. With this and Ty. You have no idea what you’ve done for him. He’s…”

“A great mechanic,” he cuts me off adamantly. “We’re lucky we found him. We’re gonna need him if we want to open a second location.”

He doesn’t leave any room for argument with that but I know. I know what Beckett did even if he won’t admit it.

Nodding, I take in the rest of the room. It’s decorated in my favorite colors: white and gray. Different sized pillows of all textures spruce up the perfectly made bed with a black throw blanket draped across the bottom. Running my fingers over the luxurious fabric, I notice something shiny hanging above the head board next to an artistic print of a curved road.

Beckett explains, saying huskily, “It’s a dream catcher.”

“Is that a sprocket? And chain links?”

He nods, shrugging a little too nonchalantly. “I used some old parts I had lying around from my first dirt bike.”

I can’t hide the disbelief from my voice. “You made that?” When he nods again, I say, “It’s beautiful. Do you always make these or something?”

His eyebrows crease and he shakes his head softly. “I, uh, no, this is the only one. I made it for you.”

I step into his space making him lean his head back to meet my stare.

“Why?”

Eyes searching mine, he says, “You’re my dream catcher and I thought you should have your own.”

My breath catches in my throat. I didn’t think he knew.

“If you don’t like it, I can take it-”

“No,” I gasp out, catching his arm. “I love it. I love it all,” I tell him honestly, gesturing around the room that I’m just now realizing has a black-out shade that wasn’t there before on the window along with a noise machine in the corner. I’ve always hated wearing ear plugs and an eye mask just to sleep but never even thought about an alternative.

Beckett did though. He put in a lot of thought for not only my comfort but my overall well-being. Like I matter.

My old apartment was decorated in similar tones but I like what he did here better. He took the smallest details from my personality while adding in his own twists to make a perfect blend for stylish simplicity.

Standing silently, I give him a once-over through new eyes. It’s like seeing him for the first time all over again but instead of the ever-pouting brat I once saw, I see a man with more depth than I could’ve ever anticipated.

Afraid of falling, of drowning in my own helplessness, I was so worried about where I’d land, I never thought to look around on the way down. Had I stopped to check my surroundings, I would’ve noticed Beckett treading his own waters, fighting against another current. And through the pain and hurt he’s been living with, he still managed to think of me and my comfort. He put my needs first when I know his haven’t been met in years, if ever. If a shattered child can grow into a complete man like Beckett, full of unconditional love and persistent kindness, then maybe a fractured woman like me can draw strength from her last reserve to give him the same. Together, we can sift through the wreckage of the remaining fragments like a jigsaw puzzle and fill in each other’s lost pieces that would otherwise never be found.

“Actually,” stepping closer, I bring my hands up to grasp his jaw, running my fingers over the day old stubble, “I think you’re right.”

Firm hands grab ahold of my hips, pulling me against his sculpted front.

“I usually am.” He clears his throat, finishing hoarsely, “But, just so I know we’re on the same page, what exactly am I right about this time?”

Locking eyes, I repeat his words back to him, saying, “This changes everything.” Then, giving him everything I fucking have, I kiss him. I kiss him for him, for everything he’s done to earn not only my affection but my respect as well. I kiss him for me, for all the things I wish I could’ve given him from the beginning but am just getting to now. I kiss him for us, for the chance that we both deserve. The opportunity we’ve deprived ourselves of just long enough for us to find each other.

We didn’t sink to the bottom, letting life’s harsh realities win out. We both kicked our way back to the surface, giving it our all without ever knowing the other would be waiting to start the journey back to shore, together.

CHAPTER 29

Beckett

“Yo, I’m out for the day. I gotta get my girl.”

Wow. Words I thought I’d never say and yet they flow out of my mouth like it’s the most natural thing in the world. But that’s just it, with Paige it is that natural. With her everything just feels…right. Normal. No, better than normal. Fucking fantastic. Perfection personified. Alright so maybe that’s overkill but seriously, I never thought having a girlfriend would be so easy.

Not that my girl’s easy. She’s the definition of tough as shit, pain in the ass, fight me at every turn, beautiful fucking goddess, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I turn the key on my bike after knocking knuckles with a few of the hourlies we just hired. I wasn’t lying when I told Paige we needed her brother. Fuck, we could use five more Tysens. Our second location of Pop The Hood is on track to open in just a few months and we’re busier than ever building up our clientele.